Jeremy Ray named Superintendent of the Year

Jeremy Ray, superintendent of Biddeford, Saco and Dayton public schools, was recently named as 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA).

Ray, 46, said he was extremely honored to be chosen and recognized but also said it would not be possible without such a dedicated, knowledgeable and hard-working team of employees in the school department.

“It’s an unbelievable honor and it makes you reflect,” Ray said. “I’m just a lucky guy who gets to work with great people. I’m just blessed.”

Ray began his career more than 20 years ago, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Maine and then a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2003. More recently, he received a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from St. Joseph’s College.

Ray is beginning his eleventh year as Biddeford’s school superintendent and has been also serving as Saco’s school superintendent since 2021.

Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant, who also chairs the city’s school committee, said he is continually impressed by Ray’s performance and dedication to his job.

“We are really very lucky to have Jeremy as our superintendent,” Casavant said. “He’s the kind of guy who never slows down. He’s continuously looking and working toward improving our schools, creating a better work environment, saving money and 110 percent committed to providing our students with the best possible education.”

Ray said he is proud of the work that has been done during his tenure as superintendent, but said none of it would be possible without an “exceptional staff” and the strong support of the school committee, city council and residents.

Among his accomplishments as superintendent, Ray hired a development director to focus on private fundraising and grants to better control his department’s budget; hired a K-12 arts coordinator to increase music and theater program opportunities; and adopted a new math curriculum to ensure that local schools are keeping pace with changing technology.

Perhaps, Ray is best known for being focused on students who have traditionally fallen through the cracks or do not perform well in traditional classrooms. He expanded the Alternative Pathways Center to provide at-risk students with an opportunity to earn their high school diploma in an appropriate, safe environment.   

As school districts throughout the state struggled with staffing shortages, Ray created a collaborative internship program with the University of New England and the University of Southern Maine. This program created a feeder system for the school department. Upon graduation, those interns became immediate candidates for job openings. On-the-job training also became a priority so that students could get real-life experience in the workplace.

“Jeremy Ray is best known for generously supporting and assisting superintendents across the state,” said Eric Waddell, MSSA president. “Throughout the pandemic, Jeremy was instrumental in developing a COVID-19 handbook that he shared statewide so that other superintendents could tailor it to meet the needs of their districts.”

Despite the recognition of his peers, Ray says he is humbled by the award and remains focused on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “We’ve been able to do some good work, and I’m excited about the future,” he said.

Randy Seaver can be contacted at randy@randyseaver.com